SummaryIn this conversation, Melissa Bryant shares her journey from growing up on a cotton farm in Texas to becoming an environmental engineer. She discusses the influence of her family, her education in STEM, and her experiences in college that shaped her career path. Melissa emphasizes the importance of community service and making a difference in underserved areas through her work with the San Antonio River Authority. She discusses the importance of nature-based solutions and green infrastructure in urban planning and community development, and explores how these approaches can provide clean water, enhance biodiversity, and improve quality of life while addressing issues like flooding and environmental justice. Melissa shares her experiences in implementing these solutions in San Antonio and now in Denver, emphasizing the need for collaboration across departments and the community. The discussion also touches on the economic benefits of these solutions and the hope for a future where communities come together for a better world.About the GuestMelissa Bryant is the Colorado Water Program Manager for RESPEC Engineering.  She is a licensed Professional Engineer in Civil Engineering and a Certified Floodplain Manager and has her Project Management Program Certification. In her current role Melissa works on Stormwater Master Plans, stream restoration projects, and maximizing opportunities for Green Infrastructure BMPs for municipalities in the Colorado Region. Melissa serves as a technical advisor to the Water Quality and Environmental Committee for the National Association of Flood & Stormwater Management Agencies and is the current Cochair for ACE25. She serves on the Program Committee for the Colorado Association of Stormwater Floodplain Managers.Show NotesMelissa Bryant’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/melissa-bryant-p-e-cfm-pmp-9b395748RESPEC Engineering: https://www.respec.com/ Takeaways•Melissa grew up on a cotton farm, which instilled hard work values.•STEM education was pivotal in her early academic life.•Being bilingual provided her with unique career opportunities.•She values nature and wanted to live in a place centered around it.•Her work focuses on improving water resources in underserved communities.•Melissa's college experience included extracurricular activities and mentorship.•Her journey reflects resilience and adaptability in her career.  Providing clean, safe, potable water is essential.•Nature-based solutions can enhance community resilience.•Collaboration across departments is crucial for success.•Integrating social justice into environmental planning is necessary.•Nature-based solutions can alleviate localized flooding.•Economic benefits of green infrastructure are significant.•Community engagement is key to successful projects.•We must be stewards of our natural resources.•Hope is a confident expectation for a better future.•Unity and collaboration can lead to grea🎙️ Stories Sustain Us is more than a podcast—it's a powerful platform that shares inspiring stories from people working to make the world a better place. Through honest, heartfelt conversations, host Steven Schauer explores the connections between people, planet, and purpose. From climate change and environmental justice to cultural preservation and human resilience, each episode aims to ignite meaningful action toward a more sustainable future.🌍 Learn more about the podcast, explore past episodes, and discover how you can support storytelling that drives change at storiessustainus.com.🔗 Follow us and join the conversation:Facebook: @storiessustainusInstagram: @stories_sustain_usX (Twitter): @stories_sustainBluesky: @storiessustainus💚 Your voice matters. Share the stories that move you—and help sustain us all.

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